At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build secure data platforms for National Security analytics and AI capabilities.
- Company: A people-first consultancy with a strong reputation in Defence and Government sectors.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a growing team with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in National Security while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in data engineering, cloud technologies, and strong problem-solving skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 120000 £ per year.
Location: Opportunities across all compass points, with particular demand across South West, North West and London National Security hubs.
Hybrid: Secure-site working required (typically 3–4 days per week depending on programme).
Salary: £70,000 – £120,000 plus bonus and benefits, depending on experience and SFIA grading.
Clearance: Active DV / eDV clearance preferred.
The Opportunity
You will be joining a specialist data and geospatial engineering consultancy at a particularly exciting stage of growth. Already well established across Defence and Government, the business is now significantly expanding its National Security capability following a series of major programme wins and long‑term growth plans. What makes this environment different is the combination of technical depth and culture. The organisation has built a reputation for being genuinely people‑first, backed up by strong Glassdoor reviews, recent Best Workplace recognition and consistent feedback from engineers who value the transparency, support and investment in development. Many engineers join from larger organisations looking for broader technical exposure, less red tape and the opportunity to have a bigger impact. Teams remain relatively small, meaning you'll work closely with customers, influence technical direction and see the outcome of your work rather than being one small part of a much larger machine. As the National Security practice scales, there is also a genuine opportunity to help shape capability and grow alongside the business.
The Role
As a Data Engineer, you'll help design and build secure data platforms that support analytics, operational decision‑making and emerging AI‑enabled capabilities across National Security environments. You'll work closely with customers, architects and engineering teams to modernise how complex data is collected, processed and exploited within secure cloud environments.
Typical Responsibilities:
- Building scalable data pipelines and ETL frameworks using Python and modern cloud‑native approaches.
- Developing AWS‑based data platforms supporting analytics, operational intelligence and AI‑ready services.
- Working with large‑scale operational, geospatial and mission data sets.
- Supporting modern data architectures, distributed processing and secure cloud transformation initiatives.
- Collaborating directly with customers to solve complex data challenges and shape technical direction.
- Contributing to DevSecOps practices using technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker and CI/CD tooling.
The exact technology stack varies between programmes. What matters more is strong engineering fundamentals, curiosity and the ability to work effectively with both technical teams and stakeholders. This role is particularly well suited to engineers who enjoy combining cloud, data and customer‑facing problem solving rather than operating inside a narrow technical silo.
Security Requirements
Due to the nature of the work, active DV / eDV clearance is preferred. Candidates should typically be sole UK nationals and comfortable operating within secure National Security environments.
Data Engineer (National Security) employer: Forward Role
Join a leading data and geospatial engineering consultancy that prioritises a people-first culture, offering exceptional growth opportunities in the National Security sector. With a strong emphasis on transparency and support, you'll work in small teams that allow for significant technical influence and the chance to see the direct impact of your contributions. Enjoy a hybrid working model across key UK locations, competitive salaries, and a commitment to your professional development in a dynamic and expanding environment.
